hi there!!! digital scrapbooking is fun.. and addicting watch out.. once you start.. you can't stop!!

i use a couple programs...

1. i got Microsoft Picture It! Express 7.0 free with a package of photo paper a couple years ago. this program is easy to use.. to drag pictures onto a background, etc... they don't have any backgrounds or embellishments as part of their program so i have to download everything i want to use and import it onto the page i'm doing...

2. Creating Keepsakes - Scrapbook Designer 2005. this one i bought for about $10 at Radio Shack/The Source. this program has backgrounds/embellishments/some editting functions, etc.

for printing... i have only printed off a few and they were created in the Scrapbook Designer as 8x10's.... so i knew that they would print out normally (not distorted, etc.). i got them printed as normal pictures from an online printing place (local store).

I use 2 programs - Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9 and Scrapbook Factory Deluxe. I like them both for different reasons. Scrapbook factory comes with a lot of backgrounds & stuff. Microsoft is great for photo editing so you can do more. Now that I've downloaded a bunch of freebies off the web, I will probably use Microsoft more.

I like to print 8x10s through Costco. (To put in 8.5x11 sheet protectors) They come out nice, shipping is free and they are cheap. I'm getting ready to print a full book with shitterfly.com It will cost a little more but will be really nice with a customized outside and everything.

I didn't think about ordering through Costco. Thanks for that suggestion. Do you submit them online?

I ordered HP Creative Scrapbook Assistant today on eBay for $15...Maria (rhythmsofgrace) recommended it, and it was a GREAT deal. I figured it would give me something to play with, and see if I like digital scrapbooking. I have a feeling I will...the reason I never got into paper was because of the need to spread out and make a mess, so I have a feeling the tidiness of d.s. will appeal to me.

I use Photoshop and I haven't printed any of my LOs yet, but when Madelyn is a year old, I plan on picking my favorites from her first year and having them printed from a site I found a while back. (I can't remember what it's called right now) But I'd love to do one each year for her.

I will throw another program out there. I use Paint shop Pro 11 and absolutely love it. It is great for scrapping and for tweaking photos and such. If you get version 10 I think it's only like 25 bucks and well worth it.

I have never printed any out yet, but I live in Germany so I am sure where I get mine done won't help you too much anyway